Study Online
How does it work?
Online courses are delivered via the Internet. Students access their courses using a web browser, such as Internet Explorer. Students have a username and password that they use to access our online learning environment, www.hsconline.nsw.edu.au. Each course has an Online Teacher allocated to it. The Online Teacher is responsible for the development of course material and supporting the learning of students in the online environment. The online courses are interactive and engaging. Students have the flexibility of being able to access their courses 24 hours a day, 7 days a week from their own school or home with Internet access. With the online courses being delivered via the Internet, students are not dependent on waiting for postal delivery like with a traditional distance education course. The courses offer fast and effective communication between students and their teachers via e-mail, discussion forums and in some cases audio and video conferencing. Generally speaking, students will receive a response within 24 hours, when they request help from their Online Teacher.
The website
HSC Online is a web site that has been built using Moodle, an open-source, Australian-developed, Learning Management System. It is a brilliant system that includes a wide range of online learning tools such as assignments, quizzes, discussion forums, chats and wikis to name just a few. HSC Online’s main purpose is to deliver online distance education courses to students at NBCS, throughout the entire State of New South Wales and even beyond.
Pastoral care
Students are welcome and encouraged to join ‘The Swamp’. The Swamp is an online space for students to socialise, connect and support each other. It is closely supervised by an Online Teacher who is also a useful point of contact if a student finds themselves struggling. It’s a great way for students to gain a better sense of community as they navigate their studies together. Each term there is a theme to The Swamp, such as ‘Pirates’ or ‘Wild Wild West’.
Workshops
Most online courses include occasional face to face workshop days to enhance the students’ online learning experience. Workshop days are a good way for online students to have additional contact with their Online Teacher and other online students within their course.